She Returned: Part 3

At the FBI Headquarters, 60-100,
High View Avenue, Maryland

Prof Gozie Tanshi Madison saw the morning forecast. It was not looking good. He shook his head. The traffic congestion looked bad. I had been trapped many times. Hold ups could be weird and suffocating, he thought. He weighed his options on whether to drive or ride. Whether to take the new black Bentley bicycle or his old Bentley car. Riding! What a plus! His doctor had

She Returned (Part 2 )

Dr Chuks Quaker's Residence, 4011 High Parks, Maryland.

The giant gates glided apart like two ballet dancers skating on ice. The little Morris Minohr, 1890 model, drove on the clay etched driveway, hidden by Sequoia trees, standing everywhere like ghosts.

She Returned (Part 1)

At a Ranch, off East-West Road, James Town

It was a hot crazy day. Filth, dust and dungs reeking in the air. Unsettling cloud, flirting, threatening rain storm, raising whirlwind. Christen was dying. She was drenched in sweat and an unbearable pains. Her mouth bruised

Dream Another Day-Separated (part 5 )

Charles comes down from the sofa, takes up the album, and turns the first page. Stares like reflections on the mirror glares at him. They are at a beach, in swimming trunks. He is lying on his back on a heap of sand. Beside him is Winifreda, kneeling down, building castles over his feet. Five paces away, a family is on picnic. At the sea, far off, a wall of wave is rolling toward them.

Dream Another Day-the Separated (Part4 )

Nike heard the door swing noisily. And runs out of the kitchen.
"Charles dear...." she says , smiling, stretching her hands, moving toward him. He scampers out of her way.
"What is this! What is the meaning of this," he yells, throwing the pictures at her.
Startles, she halts her advances. Her heart thumping. Then she stoops and picks the photos from the floor.

Dream Another Day: Separated (Part 3)

He drives fast, speeds recklessly through the traffic light at East End. Then veers into Banks Avenue. After a reckless run the car screeches and halts by a brown gate. Winifreda touches his arm, smiles and alights. She goes to the driver's side stoops. Peers at him for a while. Then kisses his cheek.

Dream Another Day: Separated ( Part Two )

Charles, Nike and Winifreda

Charles hugs Winifreda. Then takes her right hand. They smile at each other. Then he pulls a chair, and sits down.
"I was wondering when you would come" she says, smiling. "I'm famished."
"I'm here. Winnie."

Dream Another Day : Separated (Part 1)

       
                                  Separated  

"We should adopt the child now."
"We can't do that, Nike."
"But you promised... you accepted this baby."
"No, I never did. You thought l did. I didn't."
"Charles! Why are doing this to me...to us? Why are you lying," screamed Nike.
Her husband walks toward the table, snatches the key of the car. Then his phone rings. He ignores it. It rings and stops. He stares at her.
"l don't want another argument with you. Two are enough for the day."

Death Sentence: the therapy (Part 4)

              Dr Forbe and Jed Heso
              in Psychiatry Hospital, Room 203


Ife pulled up a phone. And dialed a number.
"Good morning, Prof Chi."
He switched on the loudspeaker.
"Good morning Dr Ife Thomas," replied the CMO.
" Prof, I have a case at hand. It needs your attention...your approval."
"What is the case? Is it urgent? An emergency!"
"Yes Madam. It is urgent. We are about to have the last session with our patient, Jed Heso. The husband is here. He came with Dr Quin Douglas. He wants immediate end of the therapy."

               amazon.com/author/nkemmeniru

Dream Another Day-the vote (Part 4)

Dream Another Day- the vote

"Dee, did you see the people. They swarmed on me like bees."
"Davi, don't conclude. Things are not what they seem."
Her husband smirks his lips, smiling.

Death Sentence: the therapy (Part three)

Psychiatry Room 203

The second day, 10 a.m, Psychiatry Room 203.
Dr Ife Thomas and Stan were ready for the session. They were discussing Jed Heso's file. While waiting for her.
"The picture is blurry. But someone, a man or a boy, seemed responsible for the events she passing through. Catchy, isn't it? May be the tail rather than head. Shadows! We have to reach her recesses, ride with her trance,   on the same frequencies else we will lose the elements and events."

Death Sentence-the therapy Part 2

The next day, 10 a. m, Jed Heso went in for a therapy session.

She was tucked into a peach pink stripe pyjamas, on a light blue bed.

Dr Ife Thomas, a smiling, diminutive man with a

Death Sentence- the therapy

the death sentence- the therapy

Heso was not sure where he went wrong. He was not sure what triggered her anger that boiled over like a red mountain throwing  up.
She was grasping a heavy metal club, screaming and closing in on him. He scampered backwards until he reached the windowsill.
Then she struck. The window glasses shattered, the wall edges cracked, and split. And that was his sudden route of escape, he realised. And threw himself through the window, crashing on the pavement. Then he rose, ran and jumped over the spiky fence into his neighbour garden.

Dream Another Day : Chief Justice Nne Wilcox

Chief Justice Nne Wilcox

Nne looks at her watch, it was 4:00 a.m. The stray lights at the portico, the house opposite hers, bouncing off the pillars, stream through the glass windows into the room. She watches this for a while. Then shakes her head, shuts the blinds and the windows as well, and walks back to where her husband.

“She is my friend, Honey. Please acquit her,” she pleads, holding him. 
He smiles, and drops his writing pen.
Darling, it won’t work. Even the blind finds her guilty. All the evidences point at her. She authorized the funds and spent the funds without appropriations. Darling, she is going in for it.”
She moved away from him.
“She is an orphan. We watched her grow. She’s our adopted.”
“This excuse is rubbish. Won’t stand before any law.”

“She came a long way, Darling.”

"Success is never a tool for stealing. She couldn’t manage her goldmines.”

“She was pushed into it,” she says. Then sits on his laps, smiling, looking into his eyes. “Could she plead insanity, Ben. Please do me this favour.”

“Miscarriage of justice, Nne. Count me out.”

“Then adjourn and adjourn and adjourn, five years, maybe.”

“I’m not in the position to do that. Her solicitor should have ask for it, but he did not.”

Nne turns the pages of his book.

"What! One hundred and two years,” she screams.

"Yes, my dear. She stole $102B. Every billion counts a year.”

“Ben, this is ridiculous. We got our part. We shared the money equally. We used her.”

Benjamin laughs loud.

“I did not use her. She is an insider. Presidential aide. Mine sweeper.”

“Don’t deny the $8 million Cadillac.  You claim your brother gave you. She supplied it from that fund.”

“How on earth would I tell apart a gift from graft,” he chuckles, drowning in his laughter.

“Ben! Ben! Ben!”

He turns, and rolls over the wide bed. And wipes his eyes. His wife is standing at the edge of bed, shoving and calling him. He looks up at the side clock, it was 8.00 a m.

He rubs his eyes, and sits up.
Thanks, it's all but a dream, he thought.

“David will drop me in Justice Library. Then take the children to school.”

He stands up, stretches and yawns.

“That’s okay, Nne. Make sure the security men escorts him.” 

She nods. Then he holds her. 

“Please put off this red thing. Don’t disappoint us. We are counting on you.”

“Ben, my clothes are not things. Moreover, there is nothing I can do. The case is beyond me. I will not prick my conscience.”

"Nne, please do this lifetime favour for the family. My President is begging you. My party chairman is begging you. My ministerial post is on the line. They are waiting for your positive action. Give him ten years behind bars."

“This man is innocent, Ben. I can’t play the devil’s advocate. Can’t deny the truth in my hearts? I can’t create a gaping sore in my conscience.”

“ He is notorious. We cannot accommodate his exuberance anymore.”

“What he is asking for is the release of youths unlawfully detained.”

“No, Nne. He is heating up the polity. He supplied arms to the youths. He wants to bring down the government.”

“The Attorney General could not prove this case beyond reasonable doubt. It lacks merit. And does not even have a jot of truth. I will throw it out, Ben.”

“Then what would I do to my career? You can’t think like this Nne!”

“The arms you refer to were planted. A witness saw three men concealing them in Donald’s residence. He identified the men. The prosecuting Attorney could not fault it. All the fingers are pointing at him. What should I do as a sitting judge. Rewrite their prayers to favour your people. Miscarry justice? I won’t do that. We were in Queens College, London together. We were not taught to behave abnormal, Ben.”

She disentangles from his clasp. Benjamin goes forward, grabs her.

“This is a different affair, Nne. You should dismiss yourself from the case. Don’t bring calamity to our family. Don’t push me into a political wilderness. We have the chance to serve our nation at the top as many years as possible. And our children future is as good as settled in heaven. We shouldn’t throw away this green card to great prosperity because of your rigid right. Please rescind your decision.” 

“Ben, we are not God. We don’t know what tomorrow brings. Doing what is right for us is the best way forward. Our children should be educated in public schools with other children so that they would work together, grow together as a generation.  We can’t live out our time. And at the same time take away the lives before our children. Allow their generation be. It is inhuman, degrading. Please Ben I can’t fall to your plea.”

“Nne, this beyond you now. I’m trying to let you know that My 

party does not need anyone’s opinion on this matter. We have taken our decision already. Please be careful what you do or say.”

“I will be Ben.”

She kisses his cheek. And leaves the room. 

He hears the shutting of doors, and her car whooshing out of gate. He picks up a phone.

She comes to a go-slow at a police checkpoint on the Third Avenue. The driver winds down his side window. 

“Hey, where are heading,” asks a huge man in police uniform with AK47, hanging over his shoulders.

“ Justice Library”

“No way. The library is closed. The courts are shut down. Please turn around.”

Chief Justice Nne Wilcox put her head out.

“What’s going on, Officer?”

“Bomb scare, Madam. We are checking out the alarm.”

“It’s okay. David go back home.”

The driver changes his route. She calls Justice Department. Then the chairman of the Bench.

“ Yes, My Lordship. Indefinite rescheduling.”

“The man, what happens to him, My Lordship.”

“He should remain in police custody.”

“Your Lordship, he has been there for a year. It’s undue detention.”

“The law will take its course My Lordship. I will straighten it, and call you in the evening.”

"Thank you, My Lordship.”

She keeps back the phone as the car drove into her residence. 

Then runs out of the car, rushes up the stairs, two at a double, and dashes into Benjamin’s Library. 

He swivels round.

“Hello, My Lordship. Back too early.”

“Ben, it is not funny,” she says, raging, her face discolored.

“What!”

“You called your men to stop me. Why, Ben?”

“What are saying?”

She grabs his phone. And flips through hurriedly. Nothing shows up.

Benjamin stands, smiling, watching her. 

“I don’t trust you Ben. I’m not sure my head will ever be safe on your shoulders.

Benjamin laughs for a long time.

“Nne, if I would wed you again, and again, I would. You are the best girl in town.  Do I take you out this evening? I’ve fallen in love with you again,” he says, shuffling toward her. “Buy you beef steaks, grape wine and a wonderful dinner. Please don’t say no.”
Her face breaks into smiles.
“On one condition, Ben.”
“Yes My Lordship”
“No more road blocks. No more AK47 dangling at me.”
“I promise, Nne. I Promise. No more guns, no roadblocks.”
She pokes him, and throws her bag at him. He ducks. Then she holds him, her head on his shoulder.
“Nothing goes unpunished. You sent your advocates against your wife. And God delivered her. I will rake over the coals after the dinner.”
“What!”
“You heard me, Ben,” she says, giggling.
They stare at each other for a long time, pulling faces. Then they start off, hugging, laughing.

Dream Another Day- honeymoon

honeymoon

“No, we can’t do that, Gab.”

“It’s the only chance we’ve got.”

“How could you talk like this.
“Ann, we should, please. You got to move on.”

“No, we shouldn’t,” she says.

“Darling, you are not listening.”

Gab! I can’t do this to my parents. They love you. They call you son.”

She slips off his chest, off the bed, goes to toward the oval windows. And pulls the drapes. Dull light, cold wind streams in. In the distance, in the thick smog, the elegant Statue of Liberty stood forever, her hand in up in the sky, holding the torch. 

How could she stand there all these years? Formidable, imposing against the odds.

Dream Another Day-At lunch time _Part 2

PART 2

At lunch time                            

“Pass the salt please,” says Dad the second time, staring at my guest.

I stretch my right hand to the little jar, and pass it on. 

Dream Another Day: the interview

                    The Interview







“How old are you?”
“Seventeen,” I whisper.
“Seventeen years old,” he screams, the pen falling off his hand to the floor.
The madam at the other end, ogles, lifts her eye glasses, then put them back quickly, flipping through the copies of my papers.
“Children learn early this millennium. May be next year, wedding bell will toll.”
They laugh. Then there is quiet. My heart begins to beat fast.

Madam Minister (Part 14)

Inspector Doris Agee visits a downtown neighborhood.

“Ekaite,” hollered Dr Monteseri.

“Yes Sir,” she said, hurrying into the dining room.
“Where is Nene?”
“She sleeping Sir.”
It’s okay. I’m going to the morgue with Isabel and Chidi. Help her have a bathe and breakfast.  We are coming back soon.”
“Yes Sir.”